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263
Robert H. Bunting
Bunting was one of the white men marched to the train station and banished from the city. At the
time of the riot, he was 41 years old and was Justice of the Peace for the US Circuit Court at 113 N. 2nd
Street and lived at 1307 Market Street. He was targeted because of the way he ran his court and white
Democrats claimed he had married a black woman.
According to the 1880 census for Wilmington, Bunting worked as a store clerk and was born in
North Carolina to parents also born in the state. By 1900, Bunting lived in Washington, D. C. with his wife
( who was listed as white in the census) and one year old son, who was born in North Carolina. Bunting
was working as a day laborer. They were not listed in the 1900 city directory.
In December, 1898, the Wilmington Dispatch reported that RH Bunting and John Melton were at
318 Pennsylvania Ave. a “ cheap lodging house” in Bowery section and have “ kept their tracks well covered
and only after persistent efforts was their address discovered” -- revealing that North Carolina Democrats
were consistently following the movements of banished individuals and that the banished men tried to
evade investigation.
Sources: Prather, We Have Taken a City; Reaves, Strength Through Struggle; 1860- 1930 census;
1897, 1900 city directories; Bill Reaves Collection, New Hanover County Public Library; McDuffie,
“ Politics in Wilmington;” Cody, “ After the Storm,” 1890, 1897, 1900 New Hanover County tax records;
Raleigh News and Observer, November 12, 1898; Wilmington Dispatch, December 28,1898
Carroll, John
A member of the Committee of Colored Citizens, Carroll worked as a janitor for the city.
According to the 1897 city directory, Carroll lived at 412 Brunswick Street and was not listed in the 1900
directory. In 1880, there were at least 9 black men by that name in North Carolina and none lived in New
Hanover County. In 1900, there were several men by that name in other states who listed their birthplace
as North Carolina; no John Carroll was listed as living in New Hanover in 1900.
Sources: Prather, We Have Taken a City; Reaves, Strength Through Struggle; 1860- 1930 census;
1897, 1900 city directories; Bill Reaves Collection, New Hanover County Public Library; McDuffie,
“ Politics in Wilmington;” Cody, “ After the Storm,” 1890, 1897, 1900 New Hanover County tax records.
Carter, Dr. William M.
Carter’s occupation in the 1897 directory was listed as “ herbal” doctor and he was a boarder at
511 N. 7th. In 1900, two men named William Carter lived in Wilmington; one worked as a day laborer and
the other was a vegetable huckster.
Sources: Prather, We Have Taken a City; Reaves, Strength Through Struggle; 1860- 1930 census;
1897, 1900 city directories; Bill Reaves Collection, New Hanover County Public Library; McDuffie,
“ Politics in Wilmington;” Cody, “ After the Storm,” 1890, 1897, 1900 New Hanover County tax records.
Dancy, John C.
Dancy was a conservative black leader and was respected by some whites after the rioting for his
attempts at placating tensions. Dancy was commended by the Dispatch for his “ conservative speeches”
during the 1898 campaign and it reported that he was “ much disturbed over the condition of affairs in the
State.” In the article ( 11/ 23/ 1898) Dancy was quoted as saying that he was not forced to leave the city and
was not “ interfered with during the entire disturbance.” He is further quoted as saying that he left after
quiet was restored. He also is credited with attempting to coerce Manly into recanting his article.
John Dancy was born in Tarboro in 1857 as the son of a free black whose parents had been
manumitted. Dancy’s father was a well- respected builder and contractor, who also served as a county
commissioner after the war. Dancy was educated first at home and later entered Howard University in
1873. He left school before completing his requirements due to the death of his father. Dancy returned
home and began a short career as an educator since he soon became involved in politics. Dancy served in
various political capacities throughout his lifetime, most notably serving as an active participant in
activities of the Republican Party from 1880- 1890 as candidate for office, national convention delegate and
campaign spokesman. Another of Dancy’s significant contributions was his involvement with the African
Methodist Episcopal Church and editorship of the church newspaper, the Star of Zion, for many years.
Dancy served in other roles as well, all for the benefit of the black community, including serving as a
trustee for Livingstone College. Dancy died in 1920 and details of his life can be found in his son’s
memoir, Sand Against the Wind, published in 1966. His son shared Dancy’s vitality and was also

263
Robert H. Bunting
Bunting was one of the white men marched to the train station and banished from the city. At the
time of the riot, he was 41 years old and was Justice of the Peace for the US Circuit Court at 113 N. 2nd
Street and lived at 1307 Market Street. He was targeted because of the way he ran his court and white
Democrats claimed he had married a black woman.
According to the 1880 census for Wilmington, Bunting worked as a store clerk and was born in
North Carolina to parents also born in the state. By 1900, Bunting lived in Washington, D. C. with his wife
( who was listed as white in the census) and one year old son, who was born in North Carolina. Bunting
was working as a day laborer. They were not listed in the 1900 city directory.
In December, 1898, the Wilmington Dispatch reported that RH Bunting and John Melton were at
318 Pennsylvania Ave. a “ cheap lodging house” in Bowery section and have “ kept their tracks well covered
and only after persistent efforts was their address discovered” -- revealing that North Carolina Democrats
were consistently following the movements of banished individuals and that the banished men tried to
evade investigation.
Sources: Prather, We Have Taken a City; Reaves, Strength Through Struggle; 1860- 1930 census;
1897, 1900 city directories; Bill Reaves Collection, New Hanover County Public Library; McDuffie,
“ Politics in Wilmington;” Cody, “ After the Storm,” 1890, 1897, 1900 New Hanover County tax records;
Raleigh News and Observer, November 12, 1898; Wilmington Dispatch, December 28,1898
Carroll, John
A member of the Committee of Colored Citizens, Carroll worked as a janitor for the city.
According to the 1897 city directory, Carroll lived at 412 Brunswick Street and was not listed in the 1900
directory. In 1880, there were at least 9 black men by that name in North Carolina and none lived in New
Hanover County. In 1900, there were several men by that name in other states who listed their birthplace
as North Carolina; no John Carroll was listed as living in New Hanover in 1900.
Sources: Prather, We Have Taken a City; Reaves, Strength Through Struggle; 1860- 1930 census;
1897, 1900 city directories; Bill Reaves Collection, New Hanover County Public Library; McDuffie,
“ Politics in Wilmington;” Cody, “ After the Storm,” 1890, 1897, 1900 New Hanover County tax records.
Carter, Dr. William M.
Carter’s occupation in the 1897 directory was listed as “ herbal” doctor and he was a boarder at
511 N. 7th. In 1900, two men named William Carter lived in Wilmington; one worked as a day laborer and
the other was a vegetable huckster.
Sources: Prather, We Have Taken a City; Reaves, Strength Through Struggle; 1860- 1930 census;
1897, 1900 city directories; Bill Reaves Collection, New Hanover County Public Library; McDuffie,
“ Politics in Wilmington;” Cody, “ After the Storm,” 1890, 1897, 1900 New Hanover County tax records.
Dancy, John C.
Dancy was a conservative black leader and was respected by some whites after the rioting for his
attempts at placating tensions. Dancy was commended by the Dispatch for his “ conservative speeches”
during the 1898 campaign and it reported that he was “ much disturbed over the condition of affairs in the
State.” In the article ( 11/ 23/ 1898) Dancy was quoted as saying that he was not forced to leave the city and
was not “ interfered with during the entire disturbance.” He is further quoted as saying that he left after
quiet was restored. He also is credited with attempting to coerce Manly into recanting his article.
John Dancy was born in Tarboro in 1857 as the son of a free black whose parents had been
manumitted. Dancy’s father was a well- respected builder and contractor, who also served as a county
commissioner after the war. Dancy was educated first at home and later entered Howard University in
1873. He left school before completing his requirements due to the death of his father. Dancy returned
home and began a short career as an educator since he soon became involved in politics. Dancy served in
various political capacities throughout his lifetime, most notably serving as an active participant in
activities of the Republican Party from 1880- 1890 as candidate for office, national convention delegate and
campaign spokesman. Another of Dancy’s significant contributions was his involvement with the African
Methodist Episcopal Church and editorship of the church newspaper, the Star of Zion, for many years.
Dancy served in other roles as well, all for the benefit of the black community, including serving as a
trustee for Livingstone College. Dancy died in 1920 and details of his life can be found in his son’s
memoir, Sand Against the Wind, published in 1966. His son shared Dancy’s vitality and was also